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20/03/2014
Transport For Sick Children Expanded
A new team has been set up to expand services to transport sick children in Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Edwin Poots launched the expansion of the Northern Ireland Specialist Transport and Retrieval Services (NISTAR) for critically ill neonates and children today.
The new service will be staffed 24/7 by specialists, while a new ambulance has been purchased and a dedicated response car made available to support the expansion.
Speaking at the launch at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Health Minister Edwin Poots said: "I am pleased to launch today this expanded, dedicated 24/7 service, staffed by specialists which will be an invaluable support to many families in the future."
"It is very important that we have a system which makes room for compassion, provides continuity and ensures clear communication with families in what will often be very stressful situations. This greatly increased service availability will undoubtedly improve treatment for many critically ill children.
Mr Dean Sullivan, Director of Commissioning for the Health and Social Care Board said: "The Board and Public Health Agency welcome the significant expansion of specialist transport arrangements for children.
"The plans for the expansion in service were developed by an expert project team with input from parents groups, senior Trust clinical staff, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Critical Care Network. In addition to the Board’s investment in clinical staffing for the transport and retrieval team, the Board has also commissioned an additional four Paediatric Intensive Care (ICU) beds in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children increasing the unit from eight to 12 beds at a cost of over £2million."
Dr David McManus, Medical Director, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is committed to continuing its involvement in the collaborative approach to enhance the transfer process of seriously ill children to specialist care centres.
"The new ambulance is specifically designed around the needs of these children and supports the equipment used during the transfer whilst also facilitating the medical team which accompanies the patient. NIAS has in place a dedicated team of staff, trained to provide this service, who work very closely with the medical team throughout the transfer," he said.
(IT/MH)
Health Minister Edwin Poots launched the expansion of the Northern Ireland Specialist Transport and Retrieval Services (NISTAR) for critically ill neonates and children today.
The new service will be staffed 24/7 by specialists, while a new ambulance has been purchased and a dedicated response car made available to support the expansion.
Speaking at the launch at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Health Minister Edwin Poots said: "I am pleased to launch today this expanded, dedicated 24/7 service, staffed by specialists which will be an invaluable support to many families in the future."
"It is very important that we have a system which makes room for compassion, provides continuity and ensures clear communication with families in what will often be very stressful situations. This greatly increased service availability will undoubtedly improve treatment for many critically ill children.
Mr Dean Sullivan, Director of Commissioning for the Health and Social Care Board said: "The Board and Public Health Agency welcome the significant expansion of specialist transport arrangements for children.
"The plans for the expansion in service were developed by an expert project team with input from parents groups, senior Trust clinical staff, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Critical Care Network. In addition to the Board’s investment in clinical staffing for the transport and retrieval team, the Board has also commissioned an additional four Paediatric Intensive Care (ICU) beds in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children increasing the unit from eight to 12 beds at a cost of over £2million."
Dr David McManus, Medical Director, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is committed to continuing its involvement in the collaborative approach to enhance the transfer process of seriously ill children to specialist care centres.
"The new ambulance is specifically designed around the needs of these children and supports the equipment used during the transfer whilst also facilitating the medical team which accompanies the patient. NIAS has in place a dedicated team of staff, trained to provide this service, who work very closely with the medical team throughout the transfer," he said.
(IT/MH)
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